Alex Chamwada Narrates How KTN Rejected Him Before He Turned Tables Around And Went On To Become The Most Sought After Reporter

Arguably one of the most decorated journalists in the country, Alex Chamwada is revered as a man who has graced the industry for a record 20 years and above and still going strong with captivating stories that have been perfectly researched and which directly impact on Kenyans positively.

Famously known for his travels across the globe to bring home untold stories that are aimed at changing lives of Kenyans and the world at large, Chamwada has never disappointed when it comes to covering news and especially current affairs stories.

Arguably an all-round reporter, Chamwada is a hot cake in the Kenyan media industry today. Anyone who wants to have a skill in journalism would definitely want to hear from him first. This explains why KTN was quick to snap him up immediately he tendered his resignation letter at Royal Media Services where he helped Citizen TV grow as one of the best TV stations in the country.

                         Chamwada while he worked for Citizen TV

Today Chamwada is a special correspond with KTN where he runs his series, Daring Abroad, produced by his own media production Chams Media Production. Daring abroad basically focused on Kenyans in the diaspora who have invested in different businesses and are reaping big from their investments abroad. It is a series that greatly attracted a lot of viewership to KTN, with Kenyans joining in social media to nod in contention over the incredible work Chamwada did. Though the first part of the series ended a few weeks ago, Chamwada has promised that part 2 will come with a bang.

Before all these achievements, there was a time when Alex Chamwada never saw this coming. This was 20 years ago when he was fresh from college and visited a TV station to look for a job.

                                             Alex Chamwada with his family

After 5 minutes of a voice test, Chamwada was told by a senior anchor at KTN to leave because he had a terrible voice heavily-laden with an accident and that he was not suitable for TV. He was advised to stick to documentation and librarianship because that is the only place where he belonged.

He left dejected and heartbroken because his dreams to become a great journalist had been crashed.

He says:

“Sixteen years ago I walked in the corridors of KTN offices on the 22nd floor of Nyayo House rejected but not dejected after a senior anchor without mincing his words told me I cannot make it in television journalism. After a screen test lasting no more than five minutes he had concluded that I had a heavy local accent, I was flat on current affairs and wore a boring mien. He advised that I stick to librarianship and could make a very good researcher (He had seen my first degree; Information Sciences, Moi University).”

However, this was a stepping stone to greater things. Chamwada reveals that he took it in his stride, worked hard to prove the senior anchor wrong and four years later, something big happened in his life. He says:

 “I did not leave cursing the senior anchor but in my heart was a rejuvenated ambition to work harder to overcome my weaknesses in order to ‘one day’ prove him wrong. That day came! FOUR years later I got a job as a senior reporter with KTN, grew to become a news producer compiling the bulletin for the very anchor/editing the scripts he would read on air. I did not want to know whether he had sent me away earlier, but what I kept remembering is that he had helped me in deed to become a television journalist. The rest is history.”